Blenheim Palace

Set in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace is considered to be one of the finest Baroque houses in the country. A gift from Queen Anne and a grateful nation to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, in recognition of his famous victory over the French at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. Inside the Palace can be found a superb collection of tapestries, paintings, porcelain and furniture in the magnificent State Rooms.

Sir Winston Churchill was born in the Palace in 1874 and a permanent exhibition about him is located next to his birth room – both are included in the Palace tour. He is buried in a simple grave in the nearby church at Bladon. A separate exhibition, ‘Churchills’ Destiny – the story of two great war leaders’, celebrates the achievements of Winston and his great hero and ancestor, John Churchill.A State-of-the-art visitor experience is open in the heart of the Palace called ‘Blenheim Palace: the Untold Story’. Dramatic moments from the last 300 years of history at Blenheim Palace are brought to life through animatronic figures and innovative film and projection technology, seen through the eyes of the servants.

Surrounding the Palace are over 2,000 acres of beautiful ‘Capability Brown’ parkland, lakes, fountains and formal gardens. A miniature train connects the Palace to the Pleasure Gardens, where, amongst a range of fun activities for children, can be found the Marlborough Maze, the Butterfly House, the Lavender Garden and the ‘Blenheim Bygones’ exhibition.

A very busy events programme is on offer throughout the year, including jousting tournaments, half-term costumed entertainment, the Blenheim Triathlon, Bike BP, Horse Trials and the Great Blenheim Palace Easter Egg Challenge.

Additional info

Blenheim Palace is situated in the picturesque and historic town of Woodstock, 8 miles North West of Oxford on the A44 Evesham Road, and approximately an hour's drive from both London and Birmingham. Stratford-upon-Avon is only 45 minutes drive away. Approaching Oxford on the M40, exit at junction 9 and follow signs to Blenheim. From other directions take the A44 exit from the Oxford by-pass. There is unlimited free car parking for cars and coaches. The nearest British Rail main line station is Oxford. The number S3 bus runs from there to Woodstock at approximately 30 minute intervals.

Sir Winston Churchill, arguably the greatest parliamentarian this country has ever seen, was born at Blenheim Palace on the 30th November 1874 at 1.30am. His birth room is on view to visitors and is set west of the Great Hall in the suite of apartments once allotted to the 1st Duke of Marlborough’s domestic Chaplain. In the Churchill Exhibition, near the birth room, can be seen Oscar Nemon’s bronze of Sir Winston and Lady Churchill as well as Sir Winston’s painting of the Great Hall at Blenheim.

Collection details

Architecture, Personalities

Key artists and exhibits

Sir Winston Churchill

Exhibition details are listed below, you may need to scroll down to see them all.

Exhibition (temporary)

Churchill 2015

14 February — 31 October 2015 *on now

The year 2015 marks many important anniversaries in relation to ‘Our Greatest Briton’, Sir Winston Churchill. These include the 50th anniversary of his death, the 75th anniversary of his first becoming Prime Minister, and the 75th anniversary of his ‘Finest Hour’ at the Battle of Britain. To honour this commemorative year, Blenheim Palace will be host to a range of activities and events dedicated to Churchill and his era, which spanned the best part of a century.The Churchill Exhibition

The Palace will re-open on 14th February 2015 with the newly refreshed permanent Churchill exhibition. that takes you on the journey of his life, starting with his birth at Blenheim Palace, featuring the many accolades he achieved, the proposal of his wife Clementine and his final days. The exhibition will be brought to life with photos, extracts from his diaries, artefacts and a number of other elements, giving visitors a real sense of our ‘Greatest Briton’.Memorial Garden

Another highlight of this important year will be the opening of a memorial garden in mid-June. The garden will be situated near the Temple of Diana; where Churchill proposed to his wife and will give visitors the chance to walk through his incredible life, with milestones incorporated into the path and his favourite plants surrounding the walkway.

Combe Mill & the Forest Trail KS 2, 3, 4 & 6th Form

A hands-on experience of small scale industrial technology. See and hear the Victorian beam engine, powered by the steam which is created from water scooped up by the gigantic water wheel. School groups can combine a visit to the Mill with a walk along the Forest Trail. They can learn all about how the various trees are planted for different purposes, how they are managed and how vital they are in maintaining the environment.

How to obtain

Call 01993 810535 or email education@blenheimpalace.com

Face to face resources

Educational Services at Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is a huge resource for a wide variety of education uses, available to any education group, national and international. This includes Pre-school, School and Youth Groups, Colleges and Universities, Language Schools and School Language Exchanges.The wide range of resources, not only in the Palace but also in the Gardens, Park and Estate provides equally for the National Curriculum and for general interest and leisure visits or for any combination of these.

The Lifecycle of the Butterfly - Foundation & KS 1 & 2

The Butterfly House is ideal for mini-beast observation and study and is also very stimulating for work in art, craft and design and creative writing. Visits can be led by the class teacher or by the Education Team who explain the life cycle of a butterfly using the hatching area and butterfly house itself.

How to obtain

email education@blenheimpalace.com or call 01993 810535

Face to face resources

The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden offers a unique opportunity for the study of science in tree and plant life as well as providing inspiration for all types of creative work. It is a fascinating mixture of light, dark and space, with a wealth of shapes and textures - leaves, bushes and trees, rocky shapes and formations, pool and water features.

How to obtain

Tel: 01993 810535 or email education@blenheimpalace.com

Face to face resources

The Victorians – Key Stage 2

This visit gives an insight into life at Blenheim Palace during the Victorian era. The tour covers the life and work of servants in the Victorian period as well as the family of the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Dukes of Marlborough, all of whom were Victorian Dukes.

Website

E-mail

Telephone

24 hour recorded information service

0800 849 6500

Fax

01993 810570

All information is drawn from or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.